– Round 13 of 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge
– Round 5 of 2012 FIA Middle East Rally Championship
CYPRUS GEARS UP FOR IRC AND MID-EAST RALLY SPECTACULAR
2012 Cyprus Rally: Final event of 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge; Penultimate round of FIA Middle East Rally Championship
In less than three weeks, the sunshineislandofCypruswill once again resound to the distinctive roar of high-performance competitive vehicles as the world’s best drivers gather in the easternMediterraneanto tackle the ever-thrilling Cyprus Rally.
Set to run from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th November, the Cyprus Rally will once again be organized by the Cyprus Automobile Association (CAA) and will serve as both the season closer of the 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), and the penultimate round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship.
2011 saw this mixed surface event host a thrilling five-way fight for the IRC drivers’ crown, which was eventually won by Skoda UK’s Andreas Mikkelsen. The 2012 Cyprus Rally promises to be no less exciting, with top drivers arriving on the island determined to prove their mettle in the sun.
The Cyprus Rally will also count towards this year’s FIA Middle East Rally Cup for Group N Drivers, the IRC Production Cup, and the IRC 2WD Cup. While the IRC Manufacturers title was already secured at the most recent IRC event (Skoda took the title inSan Remoat the weekend – its third in as many years), drivers will still be keen to take advantage of the coefficient 2 status of theCyprusevent to double any points they secure here.
After proving successful with drivers and fans alike last year, the Cyprus Rally will again be based around the coastal resort of Pafos. Set against a stunning backdrop that includes a historic fort, the town’s picturesque harbour, and one of the island’s most important archaeological sites, the ServiceParkpromises to be a focal point of the event. Then, of course, there are the challenging special stages that make the Cyprus Rally one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the international motorsport calendar. Offering a varied line-up of mixed surface special stages over the weekend, the event will get underway at 19:00hrs of Friday 2nd November, with Special Stage 1 – a 3.2km all-tarmac Super Special Stage through the streets of Pafos. A similar Super Special kicked off last year’s event in dramatic style and is sure to draw the crowds once again.
As ever, the event will feature a line-up of special stages that make the most of the stunningCypruscountryside while offering the sort of sporting challenge for which the island is renowned. Saturday will see crews tackle six special stages in the countryside near Pafos, amounting to 103.52km of competitive action. Day 1 will see drivers cover a total of 354.77km. The first car will enter Special Stage 2 (Prodromi) – a predominantly gravel stage – at 09:28, and SS3 (Gialia) – 100% gravel – at 10:21. SS4 (Stavros) – a 100% tarmac stage – gets underway at 11:04. Drivers will then return to Pafos for service at 12:34, before heading out again at 13:04 to tackle the repeat loop of stages. The first car will enter SS5 (Prodromi) at 14:02, SS6 (Gialia) at 14:55, and SS7 (Stavros) at 15:38. Crews will return to service at 16:58.
Sunday will see competitors leave service at 07:15 and go on to cover a total of 339.99km, with a further 6 special stages. The first car will enter SS8 (Koilinia) – a mostly gravel stage – at 08:13, and SS9 (Salamiou) – 57% tarmac – at 09:16. Crews will then tackle SS10 (Panayia) – 100% gravel – from 09:59, before returning to service in Pafos at 11:49. After exiting service at 12:19, drivers will repeat the morning stages – SS11 (Koilinia) at 13:17, SS12 (Salamiou) at 14:20, and SS13 (Panayia) at 15:03.
The finish will be at theServiceParkat 16:56 with a podium prizegiving ceremony to follow. The 2012 Cyprus Rally will see crews cover a total of 694.76km, of which 237.14km will be special stages. 30.97% (73.45km) of the stages will be tarmac, and 69.03% (163.69km) gravel.
While the intense summer heat has now passed, the possibility of rainstorms across the island – particularly in the mountainous areas where the drivers will compete – is sure to add another level of unpredictability to an already thrilling event.
A strong field of national, regional and international drivers are expected to take to the start ramp on the Friday night, including Qatari ace Nasser Al-Attiyah who has enjoyed a startling run of successes on Cyprus MERC events and will be hungry for more after his win at the weekend’s Jordan Rally.
Regulations, Entry Forms, Itineraries and more are now available for download at the official event website – www.cyprusrally.com.cy